The grizzly bears that inhabit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have played an important role in one of the nation’s greatest endangered species success stories. Since 1975, the bears have been beneficiaries of the Endangered Species Act that enabled the grizzly population to beat all odds after teetering on the brink of extinction. It grew from 136 bears in 1975 to around 700 in 2016, although estimates range from 674 to 839.

On March 3, 2016, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service announced its proposal to delist the Yellowstone area grizzlies, which includes Grizzly 399, from the federal threatened species list. It is expected to make a final decision by the end of 2016.

The Numbers

50,000 The number of grizzly bears that roamed between the Pacific Ocean and the Great Plains during Lewis and Clark Expedition, 200 years ago.

674-839 The approximate number of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem according to the National Park Service in 2016. No one knows the exact number.

150 The number of grizzlies that live within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park in 2016.

More than 524 Of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzlies live outside Yellowstone National Park.

22,500 square miles Is the range of the Yellowstone area grizzly bears, which has doubled since 1975 - that’s an area larger than Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire combined.

37 Grizzly bear populations were present in the lower 48 states in 1922.

31 Grizzly bear populations were extirpated by 1975.

136 Grizzlies lived in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 1975.

10 is number of years it takes a female grizzly to replace herself in the population.

1,000 Grizzly bears live in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, which stretches from Kalispell, Mont., all the way up into Canada and includes Glacier National Park.

Complete your vacation to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks by visiting the not-for-profit Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana. Observe live bears and wolves in naturalistic habitats.